Region One residents will benefit from free medical and dental care from the USS Kearsarge on its final stop after a six-nation mission to Latin America and the Caribbean.

In a press release yesterday the US Embassy said the Kearsarge’s visit to Guyana is the final stop on its three-month mission titled ‘Continuing Promise.’ The ship’s deployment to the region is modelled in part on last year’s mission of the USNS Comfort which also had a successful visit to Guyana in September 2007.

About 150 medical personnel will be participating in the exercise which will include providing care at sites in Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and Santa Rosa.

While most of the personnel are US military, personnel from Brazil, Canada and the Netherlands are also part of the team. The team also comprises volunteers from two US-based NGOs: Project Hope and International Aid. Officials and personnel from the health ministry will also play a central role in the exercise and the Guyana Defence Force is expected to provide critical support.

The USS Kearsarge will provide medical and dental services at the Mabaruma Learning Resource Centre from November 10-15; at the Santa Rosa District Hospital from November 12-20 and at the Port Kaituma Secondary School from November 17-21. At all three locations “the Kearsarge teams will provide general medicine, general pediatrics, optometry, and dentistry services,” the release.

These services fall under the mission’s direct medical care while it will also conduct public health initiatives such as immunizations, de-worming and epidemiologic/public health consultation. The programme also includes infrastructure support; basic bio-medical repair and veterinary services for large animals- livestock/food chain and care and immunizations. The hours of operation at all sites are 8am to 3pm.

About 60 military engineering and construction troops will support the mission by providing construction and engineering assistance to projects in Regions Three and Four. The dates and locations of the sites are the East Ruimveldt Community Centre from November 10-21, the West Demerara Regional Hospital Canteen from November 10-20, the Houston Community High School from November 10-21 and the Guyana Red Cross Children’s Convales-cent Home from November 18-21.